The Howard County Crafts Spectacular!

Handmade clothing for people who love their pets

It’s always a delight to stop by the Crazy Pet People / Always by My Side booth! They really live up to their motto, “We bring happiness between people and their furry friends,” by offering fun, unique designs created right in-house and then printed or embroidered on products made in the USA. As a crazy pet person myself, I love supporting their mission: a portion of every sale goes directly to local no-kill shelters or pet rescue organizations. I even picked up a special t-shirt for our neighbor who gives our cats such loving care whenever we’re off at a craft show!

Do some pre-shopping and check-out their hoodies, t-shirts and caps online.

Handmade Post Office banks in domestic and exotic woods

Discover the incredible craftsmanship of Robinson’s Custom Woodworking. They are renowned for their stunning bank boxes, which are not your average coin banks. Each piece is a unique work of art, meticulously crafted from an incredible array of different woods and featuring a genuine old post office box door, complete with a working combination or key. It’s the perfect combination of history and artistry, making for a truly memorable gift or heirloom. AzarÉl Greetings couldn’t resist buying and photographing a bank box with a bluebird!

Wooden coat racks, wooden and ceramic ornaments, decorated horseshoes

Next up is one of my favorite stops for whimsical home accents: Last Chance Wood Products out of West Virginia, run by Karen and Todd DeHaven! I love that they recycle wood and other products to make their charming, rustic creations. Their booth is always bursting with imaginative items. Last year I was completely beguiled by a little Santa gnome on a spring. (Check out the AzarÉl Greetings photo on the left!) This year, I’m hoping to shop for one of their delightful teacup flower gnomes. Don’t forget they also custom make and personalize items, making them perfect for gifts! Check out some of their creations ahead of time on their Facebook page.

Hand-crafted treats for birds

I’m really excited to introduce you to Berkley’s for the Birds, a wonderful small business run by Berkley, a senior at Shippensburg University. She and her parents create beautiful, handcrafted solid birdseed treats using only all-natural ingredients. Their products are a perfect bird-consumable gift—your friends and family will remember and enjoy your thoughtful present every time they watch the birds feeding! By the way, Berkley wants to graduate debt-free; I love supporting that mission! You can read more about Berkley in this AzarÉl Greetings blog post: https://azarelgreetings.com/berkleys-for-the-birds/ . Follow their journey on Facebook and take a peek at the Etsy Shop.

Hand-made opal and gemstone jewelry – anklets, bracelets, earrings, etc

LoThEMaR Opals  specializes in spectacular opals from around the world. The same opal you’re probably acquainted with as well as an amazing variety of different opal colors from around the world.  Tim cuts, polishes, sets, and wraps all his own pieces.  LoTheMaR Opals also carries other gorgeous stones. They even offer unique cabochons and fossils. Brian and I bought a unique fossilized tooth for one of our grandchildren there! See examples of Tim’s collection online. LoThEMaR is set up right across from the AzarÉl Greetings booth, making them an easy find!

Hand-made, hand-painted wood flowers magic wands, plant stakes

I’m looking forward to seeing what Andrea at Designs by All has created this year! She uses new, upcycled, and vintage materials to craft unique floral decor and beautiful crafts. Last year, she delighted shoppers with cute little red sleighs! But remember, her charming selection is always based on her latest vintage finds and what she sources from reuse shops, so the inventory is ever-changing. Andrea also specializes as a Sola Wood Floral artist, and her pieces are truly beautiful. Her booth right next to LoThEMaR Opals and across from AzarÉl Greetings, making it a perfect triple stop!

Wooden animal puzzles, scrollsaw portraits and table display items

I always love the handmade wooden puzzles from the husband-and-wife team at BowWow Creations! Harry handles the intricate woodworking, while Terry does the painting. They have a massive variety with over 450 puzzles to choose from, featuring everything from cats, dogs, and horses to crawling, slithering, and swimming things! My favorite is a custom puzzle they can make with your pet’s name. Puzzles make the perfect gift—just take one apart and put the pieces into a gift bag (and maybe snap a quick photo of the finished piece first—just sayin’!). Check them out online before you come.

Surprising photography from our backyard featuring local birds and critters: Greeting Cards, Giftables, and Giclée Canvas Prints

And of course, there’s Brian and me from AzarÉl Greetings! AzarÉl photography is startling – right on the edge of where reality meets make-believe…and it’s ALL real! Our unique photography features the birds and critters from our own backyard, captured in surprising, delightful scenes. You can enjoy this photography as memorable handmade greeting cards. Our favorite thing is hearing from customers who tell us they receive calls of thanks for the handwritten notes they send using AzarÉl Greetings cards! Send love and laughter with the new get well card on the left!